Rustbucket weathering - 5
6
6. Apply a light single layer wash of an off-Ivory
White acrylic craft paint.
6
This next phase is probably one of the most important in
all model weathering – applying the fade. All real freight
cars fade to some degree due to long years of service in
harsh elements. Our models need the same fade treat-
ment. With its initial misting of matte finish, we can move
on to fading the car with an off-Ivory White acrylic craft
paint. I put a generous drop of this paint on a palette.
With the clean wide brush, I introduce a fair amount of
clean water to the puddle of white acrylic. I always keep
a cup of clean water on my workbench for these weather-
ing projects.
STEP 2: Applying the fade Dullcote
Once the Ivory White acrylic is thinned to a very wa-
tery consistency, I start brushing it on with the soft wide
brush, in long even strokes from left-to-right. I allow
gravity to let the watery paint run down the vertical ribs
and face of the model to pool at the door tracks and
other raised areas on the lower car sill. This produces a
very even coat of the acrylic fade. Now that a decent
coat of the fade has been brushed on the model, I use
a dry, wide brush to remove the excess that pooled on
the lower area. Once the fade is dry, I mist the model
with Dullcote to permanently capture the effect. Just be
aware, some models differ in fades, requiring more appli-
cations than others. This boxcar required only one layer
to fade the car to the level I wanted.
STEP 2: Applying the fade
Continued ...
MRH-Aug 2014
